King City arrests: First round of arraignments continued

Four King City police officers showed up for arraignments Monday on a variety of criminal charges in Monterey County Court, but by the end of a brief hearing, none entered pleas.

Arraignments were continued until March 18 for Acting Chief Bruce Miller and Sgt. Bobby Carrillo, as well as the chief's brother Brian A. Miller, a non-officer who is owner of Miller's Towing in King City.

The three face charges in a felony conspiracy case alleging that cars towed by Miller's Towing were given as kickbacks to police in exchange for police business.

A weary-appearing Bruce Miller was escorted without comment by his attorney Juliet Peck as they passed journalists who packed the courthouse basement hallway.

After the hearing, Peck made a brief statement, saying Miller grew up in King City and has served the community "ever since."

"He is deeply appreciative of the outpour of support" he's received, Peck said.

Peck said she has yet to receive case documents showing the evidence about her client, and declined to comment on the charges.

Bruce Miller is free on $20,000 bail, while Carrillo is free on a $60,000 bond.

Besides the conspiracy allegation, Bruce Miller is accused of accepting a car as a bribe from Carrillo on Nov. 10, 2010, when Miller was still a captain.

Carrillo, a patrol supervisor, faces the most serious charges. Prosecutors say he targeted low-income residents in a scheme to take possession of their cars. Investigators say he directed 85 percent of the more than 200 cars he impounded to Miller's Towing. In exchange, Brian Miller allowed Carrillo to pick out free vehicles for himself, prosecutors said.

Brian Miller remains free on his own recognizance.

Also showing up to face charges of illegally possessing an assault rifle was officer Jaime Andrade, who will remain free on $30,000 bail until his arraignment, now set for March 17.

Another officer, who like Andrade is not facing bribery or embezzlement charges, was Mark Allen Baker, who was charged with making threats of violence against a resident. He is scheduled for arraignment Thursday.

Prosecutors say Andrade and Baker's alleged crimes were uncovered during the course of a larger investigation into Carrillo and the Millers that was launched six months ago by district attorney's investigators.

A scheduled arraignment was also postponed Monday for officer Mario Mottu Sr., who is now set to be arraigned Thursday alongside former chief Nick Baldiviez.

The two are charged with felony embezzlement in a separate case involving the transfer of a police car title to Mottu. The car has been seen around south Monterey County, "tricked out" and displayed in police-sponsored low-rider car shows.

Prosecutor Steve Somers asked Judge Robert Burlison to impose a no-contact order between the Millers and Carrillo, but allowing an exception for the Miller brothers because they are related. Their attorneys did not oppose the order, which was granted.

But when Somers made the same request to prohibit communication between Baldiviez and Mottu, Mottu's attorney Richard Rosen vigorously objected.

"Neither one is charged with conspiracy," Rosen said. "I've never heard of such a stay-away order between codefendants."